Therapists for college students near University of Southern California

I approach my work with sensitivity and compassion to create a safe environment in which issues can be explored. I have twenty plus years of experience working with individuals and couples. I work to de-mystify the therapeutic process in order to help you maximize your efforts to create the life and relationships you wish to have. My approach is to help you to discover the unique person you are, whether you are a professional, an artist, a parent, or a couple. Whether your challenge is situational, chronic, or acute, my goal is to help you learn how to create a more meaningful and fulfilled life and enrich your relationships with others. I work deeply and pragmatically, so that you gain both insight, development, growth and practical knowledge. I have worked with people on many issues including: creating healthy relationships self esteem, self acceptance, life transitions codependency, pro-dependency & addiction sexual addiction impulse control & behavioral change substance abuse alcoholism trauma and PTSD anxiety & depression grief and loss aging parents sibling/friend loss learning and attention issues/parenting issues parenting a child with learning and/or attention differences dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADHD & learning to accept and thrive with your unique differences. BFRB’s trichotillomania skin picking nail biting Taking the first step is often the most difficult.

Hello/Hola, I am Candy! It takes courage to address your emotional, spiritual and mental well-being. One of the hardest challenges in life is to discover a new path when you're feeling stuck. You have just taken the hardest step by seeking support from an experienced licensed mental health professional. If you're dealing with anxiety, depression, stress, life transitions or have experienced a traumatic event, I want you to know that you're not alone. I use tele-therapy to offer a safe, non-judgemental space where we can explore your thoughts, feelings and underlying issues that may be contributing to your well-being. Se necesita de mucha valentía para lidiar con su bienestar emocional, espiritual y mental. Uno de los desafíos más difíciles de la vida es descubrir un nuevo camino cuando nos sentimos estancado. Tu acabas de dar el paso más difícil al buscar el apoyo de una profesional de salud mental con experiencia. Si estás lidiando con ansiedad, depresión, estrés, transiciones de vida o has pasado por un evento traumático, quiero que sepas que no estás solo. Yo utilizo la terapia para ofrecer un espacio seguro y sin prejuicios donde podemos explorar tus pensamientos, sentimientos y problemas subyacentes que pueden estar influenciando a tu bienestar.

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My passion for working in mental health care is deeply rooted in my personal and professional experiences. As a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) I hold an M.A. in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Drama Therapy from the California Institute of Integral Studies, and a B.A. from Oberlin College. I have spent the past decade working in outpatient settings, providing support to individuals navigating the trauma of substance abuse, incarceration, and violence. I have also worked extensively with members of the LGBTQIIA+ community and understand the profound impact homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia can have on mental health and access to care. These experiences have fueled my commitment to promoting healing, empowerment, and inclusive care for those who face unique and systemic challenges. To ensure that clients feel heard and understood in sessions, I approach my work from a strength-based, client-centered perspective. I believe that you are the expert on your own journey, and my role is to help you identify and uncover your strengths and resources. Together, we’ll (re)learn how to apply them to your goals while connecting with new sources of support. Throughout our work, we’ll also focus on addressing challenging relationships and exploring new ways to build meaningful connections with others, ensuring that your voice remains central in the process. Building trust and a strong therapeutic alliance with my clients is rooted in empathy, transparency, and respect for each individual’s unique journey. While I primarily use drama therapy, humanistic, and narrative techniques, I tailor our work to create a plan that best fits your needs. I firmly believe that everyone has inherent worth, a meaningful story, and valuable contributions to make in the world. My approach is collaborative, ensuring that you feel heard and understood throughout the process. Additionally, I am trained in both abstinence and harm-reduction approaches and am familiar with 12-step/Recovery language and culture.

Navigating the challenges of college and young adulthood can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to face it alone. I specialize in supporting college students, young adults, and children as they work through anxiety, depression, life transitions, self-esteem struggles, and relational challenges. My goal is to create a warm, safe, and judgment-free space where you can explore your emotions, gain clarity, and build the tools you need to thrive. Together, we’ll work at a pace that feels comfortable to you, helping you move toward greater confidence and well-being.

College is often a time of growth and change. Some days feel fun and exciting while at other times you may feel lonely and overwhelmed. Students are adjusting to living with roommates and trying to balance studies with socializing. Homesickness is common, as are sadness, stress, and sleep disturbances. College often allows young people to embrace their true selves and start anew. Please join me in a therapeutic, non-judgmental space to explore and process your feelings as you navigate this important time in your life. No topic is off-limits. I enjoy and feel privileged to work with this population and welcome the opportunity to connect soon.

Hi there, I'm Rajiv, a trusted marriage and family therapist proudly serving Orange County, CA, and currently affiliated with Uram Family Therapy. My journey in this field includes invaluable experience gained at the UCI Child Development School, where I taught social skills and emotional regulation through the UCI Department of Pediatrics. My passion lies in supporting individuals, couples, and families as they navigate through challenges such as depression, anxiety, and life changes. I bring a diverse set of skills to the table, incorporating proven methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help my clients achieve their goals. I firmly believe that no matter what life throws at you, with the right guidance, you can transform challenges into valuable learning opportunities. I'm dedicated to creating personalized therapy plans that reshape attitudes, empowering you to confidently navigate life's transitions. My commitment to community service knows no bounds. As a child at heart, I love delving into the emotions that define us. Outside of work, you'll catch me engaging in sports activities and playing video games, elements I seamlessly integrate into the therapeutic environment. I'm a family guy through and through, finding immense joy in exploring the world with my wife and son. On a lighter note, I'm a dog lover and proud owner of two adorable canines, Chewie and Charlie. Spending quality time outdoors with them is a regular part of my routine. If you're looking for someone to talk to or seeking guidance through life's difficulties, I'm here to lend a helping hand. My goal is to help you feel capable in adversity, embrace life's changes, discover your hidden strengths, and learn to bounce back from challenges with courage. Let's embark on this transformative journey together.

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Hi there! When life gets tough or things get busy, we often we sacrifice our mental health, forgetting that being happy & healthy starts from within. Whether you are experiencing feelings of anxiety, depression, are going through a difficult life transition, or are struggling with some aspect of your life, I primarily use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) & Solution Focused Therapy, but also use an eclectic approach to create a collaborative and empathetic environment where we focus on your strengths & help support you to reach your goals. My goal is to help you feel validated while giving you tools & coping skills to live a better life & handle the challenges that life throws at you. I create a non-judgmental, safe, trusting environment & personalize my approach to help you reach your goals. I am an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist in California, that is dedicated to helping you reach your goals & build a healthier life with healthier relationships. If you are located in the state of California, I provide online therapy sessions. I look forward to speaking with you!

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I work with adults, college students, and young professionals who are experiencing anxiety, depression, ADHD, mood changes, or the effects of past traumas. I take a collaborative approach that may include medication management, lifestyle adjustments, or mindfulness-based practices. My goal is to help you feel understood and empowered as we work together to identify what is most effective for you. Our practice also offers a range of therapy and counseling services. When helpful, I’m glad to connect you with a skilled therapist so psychotherapy can be thoughtfully integrated into your care. If you have questions about a specific concern, don't hesitate to reach out.

Are you feeling stressed or overwhelmed? Perhaps you or a loved one is feeling depressed and anxious and you are not even sure why. Are you having a hard time finding satisfaction in your relationship or do you feel like the everyday stress of being a parent, working, going to school or trying to be there for everyone is too much to handle? Are you having difficulty achieving your goals? ​ The collection of therapists at Positive Change Counseling Center are inclusive, compassionate, strength-based, solution-focused therapists who provide support and feedback to clients in a safe and comfortable environment. We work with each client to help resolve current issues and symptoms as well as long-standing patterns or behaviors you want to change. ​ We all face challenging times and struggle through different stages in our lives. If you are looking for guidance and support to make a positive change in your life, we look forward to working with you. Please call or e-mail to make an appointment La Mesa, San Diego, Rancho Bernardo, and Ventura ​ All of our Clinicians offer telehealth (video) sessions. Most Clinicians are also seeing clients in-person. Please contact our front desk to inquire about in-person sessions. Clients must physically be in the state of CA during telehealth sessions.

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Hi, I’m Jessica Nava Orellana. I am a talk style therapist and I’m so glad you’re here… I am a California-based Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist offering individual and couples therapy/Relationship Therapy. I also support individuals who are exploring relationships, grief and loss, work-life/ School balance, job loss and other life transitions. My approach is client-centered, collaborative, and grounded in compassion. I strive to provide a safe, supportive space where you can process whatever comes up in therapy, whether this is your first experience with therapy or you’re continuing your journey with a new therapist. We will work together to explore and tailor your goals at a pace that feels right for you. Therapy doesn’t always have to look a certain way. Sometimes it’s about checking in on the highs and lows of the week; other times it’s about deeper reflection and growth. Together, we’ll create space for your inner strengths to emerge naturally. You don’t have to do this alone.

People make the decision to engage in therapy for a multitude of reasons, all of which are valid. Some people may be ambivalent about making changes in their lives, while others might feel eager and ready to start the process. Regardless of where you find yourself on that continuum, I am here to support you. Although my background has mainly been focused around eating and body image, I see clients who are experiencing a variety of concerns: relationship issues, anxiety/depression, life transitions, unhappiness, etc. Prior to private practice, I worked with undergraduate and graduate students at Harvard University Counseling and Mental Health Service, with a specialty in supporting student-athletes and individuals with eating and body image concerns. I have also worked in psychiatric inpatient programs as well as eating disorder treatment programs. My therapeutic style is integrative, which means that our work together will draw on various approaches determined by your concerns and goals. My hope is for us to build a trusting relationship that will allow for honest reflection, helpful challenge, and ultimately positive change so that you may be able to lead a more fulfilling life.

Hi, I am Rafael Cazares, LMFT. As a bicultural professional, the son of immigrants, and the first in my family to graduate from college, my practice is deeply dedicated to Latino/a/x mental health and student wellbeing. I understand firsthand what it is like to navigate two distinct worlds at once, balancing deep cultural roots and family sacrifices with the heavy, relentless pressures of higher education. Before transitioning into mental health, my first career was in Information Technology (IT), which heavily shapes how I view therapy today. I borrow some of that mindset to look at you as a whole person. I do not look at your academic stress, chronic anxiety, or life transitions in isolation. Instead, we look at how your history, your course load, your family dynamics, and your routines all connect. I mostly work with driven, first and second generation students, path changers, and overthinkers who find themselves running on empty. My clients are often students who know they want to excel, but they currently feel completely stuck, paralyzed by procrastination, or constantly living on default high alert. This mental friction usually happens when the intense desire to honor your family sacrifices collides with an unceasing inner critic and a mind that refuses to shift out of high gear. Whether you are carrying the heavy weight of everyone else expectations or trying to find your footing in an environment that was never modeled for you growing up, you belong here. My practice is a fully welcoming, identity affirming space where you can finally drop the academic armor and examine your story without an ounce of judgment. Combining intentional behavioral science like ACT with advanced trauma processing like EMDR, we focus on identifying the exact loops keeping you stuck, processing the stuckness, and developing life long skills. We move past empty venting to focus on concrete strategies to quiet the background noise of your thoughts, lock in your focus, and manage the intense emotional fatigue of higher education. Balancing my own life as a stay at home father during the day, I intentionally structure my practice with late evening and Saturday slots. This allows me to meet you online during the quiet hours when your classes, labs, and study shifts are completely done for the day. You do not have to carry the immense weight of these academic and cultural expectations all on your own. Let us connect today to schedule a free 15 minute consultation call and start building a clear roadmap toward a future that is truly your own.

I find inspiration in helping others that are struggling with mental health problems. My clients have my attention, support, and feel heard and validated. I also collaborate with them to address their problems or distress. As a registered therapist, I strive to meet the client where they are at in life and help them move forward in their individual goals. I work with people from all age groups, religious and cultural backgrounds, states of life (pregnancy), and the LGBTQ population. I have experience working with individuals suffering from a wide range of mental health disorders, grief and loss, trauma symptomatology, medical conditions, and dual diagnoses. I have a passion for reaching out, connecting and relieving mental suffering. I have specialized training working in the following areas: CBT, DBT, Clinical Sexology training in Florida, and TRAUMA training in SEP (Somatic Experiencing Practitioner), EMDR. I have worked with couples using the Gottman method, attachment issues and communication skills. My PhD is in international psychology and I enjoy working with people from all backgrounds.

If you are considering therapy, I'd be glad to provide you with a free consultation over the phone. I believe that the relationship between the client and therapist plays a significant role in helping people overcome school stress, painful emotional experiences, destructive interpersonal patterns, and other obstacles that get in the way of us experiencing our lives from a place of openness and security. I work closely with student clients to explore the role that their unique circumstances play in how they see themselves and others. My approach to treatment relies on non-judgment, compassion, and respect for all of my clients. I utilize various therapeutic approaches and provide psychological testing, including cognitive-behavioral, mindfulness-based, and psychodynamic interventions. Your needs matter, and I will work to stay attuned to them throughout the treatment. I have fifteen years of experience treating college students, adults, children, and adolescents in various treatment settings. Through working in a collaborative and integrative manner, and treating the whole individual, I aim to help those I work with negotiate your unique place vis a vis your relationships and your greater environment. I believe that this approach can lead to lasting and meaningful changes in one's life.

I work best with students who are feeling overwhelmed by the pressures of school, work, relationships, or major life transitions. Many of my clients come to therapy because they're struggling with anxiety, stress, depression, self-esteem, burnout, or feeling stuck. Others are adjusting to college, navigating difficult family dynamics, substance and alcohol abuse, processing relationship challenges, or trying to balance everything life is throwing at them. You don't have to have everything figured out before starting therapy. Whether you're looking for support through a difficult season or want to build healthier coping skills and greater confidence, I'll provide a supportive, nonjudgmental space where you can feel heard, understood, and empowered to create meaningful change.

As an immigrant who identifies as Chinese/Chinese American, I understand the challenges and nuances of growing up bicultural and have helped individuals/families navigate these issues. I am committed to understanding each client’s unique experiences with various identities (e.g., culture, race, ethnicity, gender), as well as the intersectionality of these identities, family values, and belief systems. As a result, I view my clients as whole people, rather than just focusing on diagnoses and symptoms. I approach each client with curiosity and am committed to helping you connect with yourself and others, nourish your growth, and flourish in all areas of your life. My approach is warm, collaborative, direct, open, and honest. I have worked with the following: ASD, ADHD, OCD, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, academic stress, emotion regulation issues, life transitions, identity development, gender/racial/sexual identity, family conflict, and LGBTQ+ issues. I utilize an integrative approach, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), mindfulness, and other evidence-based treatments when warranted.